Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster, Ron Hays, is featuring comments from Kansas State University’s Dr. Bob Weaber about what is ahead for genetics in the beef industry.
The Beef Cattle Institute at Kansas State University regularly conducts a podcast with experts on staff. One of the recent podcast episodes features comments from Weaber, who specializes in beef breeding, genetics, and cow-calf operations.
“I think one of the really interesting dialogues that is going around in the producer world is some refocusing on maternal genetics,” Weaber said.
Some of these attributes in this conversation over maternal genetics, Weaber said, include a focus on what genetics will create cows to go the distance and help with low cost while also producing outstanding calves.
In the midst of continuous liquidation of the cow herd, Weaber said as producers eventually start to rebuild, he is hopeful that producers will be selective with their replacements.
“One of the topics that is really important is making crossbred cows,” Weaber said. “We know the advantage of making those cows in terms of longevity and fertility.”
Selecting cows that are the right size, Weaber said, is also critical.
“We had a grad student do a big model a while back that suggested that moderate-size cows are actually, at least here in eastern Kansas, the appropriate kind of cow,” Weaber said.
Weaber also talked about paying attention to lactation.
“Those really high milk cows have a high nutrient requirement, and they have a higher maintenance requirement all 12 months of the year, so again, moderation is kind of the key to making sure those cows are fit for your production environment,” Weaber said.
The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network and is a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR for today’s show and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.
